6.30.2005

WORLDS OF FUN AGAIN!!!

Alright, lemme just finish up the Birthday Adventure real quick. After riding the Mamba in the first car, the Timber Wolf (a good ol' wooden coaster) seemed like child's play. But don't think for a second I didn't consider jumping towards the Chicken Exit.



Okay, I didn't really, but it seriously doesn't look like much compared to the Mamba. However, it's bumpy as a motherfucker and amazingly I took pictures throughout the 2 minutes of dddeathhh... (yes that's my finger in one of them...sue me, it was hard enough to hold on to the damn thing!!!)





We went on tons of other stuff, but honestly I felt like a god damn tourist as it was. "Oooh, big, tall Roller Coaster! I love America!!!"

As for the rest of the Birthday Week, tonight is all about going to see War of the Worlds at the drive-in and tomorrow is First Friday! Both of those involve just me, Molly and the baby, so I know everyone will at least show up for that! :)

THIS IS SOME FUNNY SHIT!

Seriously...I love Europe.

WORLDS OF FUN IS...FUN!

So I survived Worlds Of Fun without spewing my lunch! That's always a good way to start the day. The other good way to start a day? Having a friend that would actually SHOW UP for my birthday celebration. HUGE THANKS goes out to my one and only friend who came out to WOF with me, Melissa.

So enough bitching...on with the photos!!!

The first ride we hit was something I loved as a child, The Octopus! Nice and easy, although it did make my tummy drop. Weeeeee!!!



After that we went to Africa, (see, Worlds of Fun is based on that book "Around The World In 80 Days" and is broken up into different countries!) and hit the Zulu! This thing is insane and how I made it without getting sick is beyond me. I ain't old yet!!!




Also in Africa was a really gay gorilla (don't ask, let's just say it's a good thing I had my wedding ring on that day) and the Fury of the Nile!!!




Then we hit the Mamba, Worlds of Fun's highest, fastest roller coaster! Remember when I told you I was scared to death of heights and how I'd cry like a baby on the way to the top? Well, here's the thing, Melissa likes riding in the very front car on roller coasters and I absolutely HATE doing that, because when you get to the top, not only do you have nothing but the 200 feet below to look at, but you also sit there for like 10 seconds until the rest of the cars catch up. But what the hell, you only live once and since Melissa was nice enough to join me, I might as well suck it up and be a man for a couple minutes...

And check out that line! We were able to cruise right to the front in NO TIME! It was awesome!





The next post will include the Timber Wolf and other stuff...

6.28.2005

EVEN DUBYA GIVES ME A GIFT!

Full story here.

Bush to tout 'clear strategy' for Iraq
President to address nation from Army base

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With his approval rate sinking, President Bush is set Tuesday to address the nation about his "clear strategy" in war-torn Iraq while key Democrats will look for signs the president is willing to shift some policies.

Bush will mark the anniversary of the U.S. handover of sovereignty to Iraqis with a speech at 8 p.m. ET before a military audience at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"I think we have a clear strategy for success," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday. "He's going to be talking in a very specific way about what that strategy is. It's an opportunity for the American people to hear about the strategy."

He added, "The president made it clear after September 11 that some will want us to grow complacent and forget about, or put the attacks off as a distant memory. But it does require patience and resolve to see this struggle through to the end. We have no option but to defeat the terrorists, and the terrorists will be defeated."

OH JOY! A PRESS CONFERENCE!!!

He only does these like once a year, I feel honored. Believe it or not, I love them. Seriously. I hate the fucker and think that every word that comes out of his mouth is complete bullshit...but I love watching him trying to talk to people. And I do mean, trying.

I mean, c'mon...you're just NOW going to tell America about your clear strategy?! What the fuck have you been doing for the past two years?!

I just bought a D.L. Hugley comedy CD today and he makes a good point. "I don't want a President who I could beat in a Spelling Bee." There's a lot of truth in that. The man is horrible in front of crowds, and especially on television. Oh, and the fact his poll numbers are in the lower 40%'s is even better! He might shit himself right there in front of everyone!

Should be fun!

I MUST CONFESS MY LOVE



Dear Sleater-Kinney,

My wife and I have been talking and we've decided it's okay if I go ahead and see you on the side. Don't get me wrong, I love my wife dearly, but watching you perform "Jumpers" on Letterman last night...well, I'm in love. You are putting Rock N Roll back where it needs to be. Away from the Billboard Charts and "safe for airplay" shit and back into the edgy and dangerous category.

Plus, I have a weakness for talented, take-no-bullshit, older women. So you're a triple-threat!

So please, take me with you. I'm short, so I won't take up much space on the tour bus! As long as I check in on my son once every couple of months, we'll be good to go.

Much love,
~Travis.

6.27.2005

PAPA GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!

Yeah, I broke down and bought me a new pair of shoes. I hate buying shoes and only do it about once every three years. Pretty much after I wear the soles clear off the old ones and-or the smell gets to Molly and she offers to take me to the mall and get a new pair. (Plus, my birthday is coming up, so what the hell.) So I went with these:


Pretty basic, and they'll help me ollie higher...cause you know, I'm SUCH a skater! :)

Also for my birthday, Molly picked up these for me:






yeah...that's right, the BATMOBILE TOY! What? Isn't that what all 26 year olds are asking for nowadays?!

6.24.2005

FRIDAY!!!!

Hot damn it's finally Friday! It's been a hellva week and even though I have to work on Saturdays (only until 4) it's still nice to know the weekend is almost here!

Not that I'll be doing anything exciting this weekend. But any day I can sleep in past 7:30 is good enough for me! No, the fun really starts on Monday. The Kansas City Star is sending me to different events to have me do short lil' comic reviews for their Preview section. Last month it was Rockfest, (which was awful loud and annoying Metal mixed with mud as far as the eye can see) and this time it's Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam! I even get a Press Pass, so I can go backstage and interview the skaters and bikers. I only get "five minutes" so if given the chance, I'm going to ask Tony Hawk what the chances of a "Gleaming the Cube" sequel. (If you even get that reference, consider yourself a bigger nerd than me.)

Tuesday's the big ol' birthday and Wednesday (my day off work) is gather my friends at World's Of Fun day! (www.worldsoffun.com) I haven't been on a roller coaster in about 2 years, so I'm itching to get back into it. I have this incredible fear of heights and usually cry like a bitch on the way up to the top, but after it's all said and done, I feel like a MAN!!! Of course, I'm bound to have a few friends give me the old, "Travis are you sure you're TALL enough to ride this ride?!" But hey, what kind of friends would they be if they didn't give me shit?

Anyway, check back next week and I'll post photos!!!

6.23.2005

KARL ROVE, FUCK OFF!!

Here's some comments Bush's "Right Hand Man" made at a dinner last night in New York...

"Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers," Rove said Wednesday night. "Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war."

"Conservatives saw what happened to us on 9/11 and said we will defeat our enemies. Liberals saw what happened to us and said we must understand our enemies."

You can read more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8324598/

Um...Karl Rove can go fuck himself. Liberals and Conservatives alike were saddened and united on 9-11 and even in the months after it. I was all for going after Osama Bin Laden. (Remember him, dumbass?! The guy who actually had something to DO with the attacks?!)

The point where Liberals and Conservatives differ is when it came to Iraq. A country and a dictator that had NOTHING to do with the attacks.

All this rhetoric does is try and divide the nation by playing the "Liberals hate America" card. It's a sad attempt to gain support for your war and your President at a time when both are struggling to keep support in the 40% range.

Is it 2008 yet?

6.22.2005

BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

It's called "LOOK AT ALL THE LOVE WE FOUND--A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME" and usually cover albums are hit or miss, but this thing is fantastic! It just came out on Tuesday and your better record shops should have it. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Jack Johnson "Badfish/Boss DJ"
2. Michael Franti & Spearhead w/Gift of Gab "What I Got"
3. Fishbone "Date Rape"
4. Bargain Music "Get Out"
5. AVAIL "Santeria"
6. No Doubt "DJ'S"
7. The Ziggens "Paddle Out"
8. Mike Watt & Petra Haden w/Stephen Perkins "Work That We Do"
9. Filibuster w/Half Pint "Get Ready"
10. G. Love "Greatest Hits"
11. Greyboy Allstars "Doin Time"
12. Camper Van Beethoven "Garden Grove"
13. Ozomatli "April 29th, 1992"
14. AWOL One/Abstract Rude/Josh Fischel/Transducer "Waiting For My Ruca"
15. Pennywise "Same In the End"
16. Pawn Shop - Los Lobos

Oh, and go ahead and buy a bong on your way out too. It automatically forces you to smoke a bowl and sit on the couch all day...it's THAT good!

6.21.2005

I'M BECOMING AN OLD MAN!!!

Tuesday the 28th is my Birthday. I'll be 26 and I feel so much older. I'm so out of shape, it's sad. What happened to my metabolism? I used to eat nothing but french fries and chicken nuggets and not gain a pound...now I'm like ten pounds away from wearing a t-shirt when i go out to the pool! WHEN DID I BECOME SO OLD?!

I try and ride my bike and get in a lil' excercise every week, but I still eat whatever I want and drink Cherry Coke like it's laced with Crack. Ugh. I don't wanna go on a diet. Diets are for old people! I'm young! I'm full of energy! I'm...lying to myself. :)

Oh well, maybe 26 isn't that bad. 25 was okay. I had my baby when I was 25. (not ME exactly, but you know...) Perhaps 26 will get me the fuck out of my dead end job?! I got to get a better job before I get really old...like 30 or something!

MEMO TO WEEZER

ATTN: WEEZER.

We all loved "The Sweater Song" and the Blue Album in general, but now you're nothing more than a parody of what you used to be. Just when I think that "Beverly Hills" is the saddest excuse for a Weezer song ever, you release "We're All On Drugs." Wow. That ones sucks even worse!

Listen, I know you guys became this Urban Myth since you were gone for about a decade, but you are making yourself look silly. It's like you're trying to become lame and unoriginal. STOP. For the love of God, just stop and give up for another 10 years. Then come back, make one last album and go out with some dignity.

All my best,
~Travis.

TV IN THE SUMMERTIME

Sure, you COULD watch Fear Factor and I Wanna Be A Hilton, but there are some interesting things on that DON'T suck donkeynuts...

Monday you got SIX FEET UNDER
Tuesday you got RESCUE ME
Wednesday you got 30 DAYS

...and after that, you're on your own. Molly and I try and catch up on our Blockbuster Online DVD's the rest of the week.

OH, SIX FEET UNDER....

Why must you be finished after this year? Sure, you had a rough patch there in the middle seasons, but lately you're on a roll! I guess it's better to go out before you get stale...

I'll miss you and all your fucked up family situations.

Love,
~Travis.

6.20.2005



...taken outside my parent's house in the middle of an upper class Kansas neighboorhood. Maybe there's hope for Kansas afterall?!
~Travis.
www.flickr.com







Father's Daythefoxymoron's Father's Day photoset


Father's Day (photo one)


chocolatefountain
Originally uploaded by thefoxymoron.

Any day that starts off with a chocolate fountain is a gooooooood day!

Click on the photo to see others...

BATMAN, I THINK I LOVE YOU

Drop whatever you're doing this very second and go see Batman Begins. Seriously, it's THAT good!

"Yeah yeah, but Travis you're a giant comic book nerd, so isn't your opinion biased?!"

Who you calling a comic book nerd?! What, just because I dressed up in my "Batman & Robin" nipple batsuit I automatically have a bias? Fuck you for judging me!

...ahem...anyway. I was amazed at how well of a film Christopher Nolan made here. His other pictures, (Memento, Insomniac) were terrific, but this was a "SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER!" Surely he couldn't keep the same level of character development and also have dem biggin' explosions at the same time, right?! It flows incredibly well. Hell, Batman himself doesn't show up until about halfway through the movie...and that's a GOOD thing. Nolan does an amazing job of keeping everything leveled in reality and grounded. When you're dealing with a man dressing up in a batsuit and fighting bad guys, it's easy to just go campy. (See Joel Shittybacker's versions for proof of that.)

Molly and I went to the Drive-In to see it. It had been about a decade since either one of us had been and I think it had been about the same amount of time since they had touched the screen. But hey, it adds to the nostalgic feel, right?! I guess it's pretty common place now, but instead of the speakers on poles, you can dial a certain radio station and listen to the film in your car, which was awesome! (I wanted to remember what that station was so we could listen to other movies as we just drove around town, but the signal only worked inside the Drive-In...figures!)

So seriously, go see Batman! It'll make you want to go out and buy all the new toys...Especially the Batmobile! (Like I don't buy them anyway...)

~Travis.

STUPID SUMMER COLD

Attention sore throat, YOU SUCK!

Oh and your friends the canker sores not earning you any bonus points...

~Travis.